Method for manufacturing track links

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of mechanical engineering and can be used in the manufacture of track links. A wire consisting of at least a first and a second material is wound onto a frame. The formed coil is heated and then flattened to the desired shape such that a permanent connection is formed. The first material may be a wear-resistant steel and the second material may be a high-tensile steel. The wire may have a variable diameter. Before the wire is wound, an insert made of a wear-resistant steel may be fastened to the frame. The result is an increase in the strength and wear-resistance properties of the manufactured parts and a simplification of the manufacturing process due to a reduction in the number of manufacturing operations to be performed.

Description

Method of manufacturing track links

[0001] The invention relates to transport engineering, namely to methods for manufacturing elements of articulated joints of track links.

[0002] Currently, it is known to use track chains to increase the cross-country ability of vehicles and reduce their specific pressure on the ground when moving. In addition, track chains are known that can be installed around the tires of vehicles with the possibility of removal. Typically, such track chains are tracks connected to each other in a chain by links. For example, a track chain is known that includes tracks with side stops and brackets, hingedly fastened by links [Patent RU 2530947 "Track chain link with two side support elements and a method for manufacturing a support element for such a track chain link", declared on 12.05.2010, B62D 55 / 04 (2006.01), B62D 55 / 08 (2006.01)].

[0003] Such a track chain can be used to provide better friction and traction between the vehicle tires and the supporting surface, especially on wet, slippery or muddy ground. In logging, such track chains help reduce rutting and thus reduce the negative impact on the forest environment. The harsh conditions of logging operations lead to gradual wear of the track chain elements, in particular the links connecting the tracks.

[0004] An example is a link connecting the tracks of a track chain, intended for installation around the outer periphery of the tires of a vehicle, comprising two lateral elongated elements connected at the ends to each other by transverse elongated elements, wherein the transverse elongated elements are designed with the possibility of connecting to the tracks of a track chain, wherein the lateral and transverse elements are made in one piece [US D801395 "Haggis link", declared 16.05.2016].

[0005] As the links wear out, the track chain tension decreases and it sags. This can lead to several negative aspects. Firstly, the track chain can jump off the vehicle wheels. This will require additional labor and time to reinstall it. Secondly, the decrease in track chain tension leads to its slipping on the wheels, which reduces the traction characteristics of the vehicle and also leads to significant wear of the wheel rubber. Thus, high strength and wear-resistant requirements are imposed on the track chain links connecting the tracks. The problem is that it is difficult to select a material available for production that would have high strength properties and high wear resistance at the same time and ensure relative ease of manufacture.

[0006] The track link connecting the tracks can be manufactured using various known methods. For example, a known method involves cutting a metal rod, bending it to form a closed contour and fusion welding the resulting joint [GOST R EN 818-1-2005 "Steel chains made of round short links. Safety. Part 1. General requirements for acceptance", p. 3].

[0007] When using wear-resistant steels, the production of a link connecting the tracks becomes complex and labor-intensive. This is due to the fact that wear-resistant steels belong to the groups of limited weldability or poorly weldable steels. To weld such steels in order to ensure the quality of the welded joint, it is necessary to maintain a strict technological process that requires preliminary heating, heating during welding, and subsequent heat treatment. In addition, this method of manufacturing a link does not involve combining materials with different properties to ensure both strength and wear resistance.

[0008] The metal casting process can also be used to manufacture the links connecting the tracks. For example, a method for manufacturing a chain link is known from the prior art, including its casting in a pre-prepared gasifiable model [RU 2135322 "Method for manufacturing a chain by casting using gasifiable models", declared on 25.09.1997, B22C 9 / 30 (1995.01)].

[0009] This technical solution is difficult to apply in practice (especially in the conditions of small enterprises of individual and small-scale production), since it requires strict control over maintaining the chemical composition of the alloy, as well as the creation of conditions that ensure the homogeneity of the structure of the link casting (to exclude the occurrence of internal voids). Violation of this leads to significant fluctuations in the strength characteristics of the manufactured links. In addition, in the conditions of small production, it is difficult to ensure high productivity of the process of manufacturing a connecting link by casting.

[0010] The prior art discloses processes for manufacturing chain links based on forging or stamping. For example, a method for manufacturing a chain link by forging it from a pre-prepared blank is known [RU 2419556 "Anti-skid chain link", declared on 30.09.2009, B60C 27 / 08 (2006.01)].

[0011] This manufacturing method ensures a compacted structure. This also follows from the fact that more suitable materials can be used in the forging process than the materials of the chain links, which involve welding. However, the method does not imply a combination of materials with different properties to ensure both strength and wear resistance of the final product.

[0012] The closest to the declared technical solution is a method for producing parts with a hole of the type of track links, which consists of hot deformation of the workpiece and subsequent multi-position piercing and trimming of the flash [SU 1461582, Method for producing parts with a hole of the type of track links, declared on 16.03.1987, B21K 23 / 02].

[0013] The disadvantage is that the method does not involve combining materials with different properties, which ultimately complicates providing the structure of the link connecting the tracks with the necessary strength and wear-resistant properties, since it is difficult to select a material available for production that would simultaneously have high strength properties and increased wear resistance. In addition, the technical solution includes a relatively large number of technological operations, and also requires the preparation of steel cut blanks. All this increases the labor costs of manufacturing the link and increases the complexity of the production process.

[0014] The objective of this invention is to develop a method for manufacturing track links that would provide a technical result in the form of the ability to combine materials with different properties in order to provide increased strength and wear-resistant properties of the manufactured parts, simplify the manufacturing process and reduce labor costs by reducing the number of technological operations performed.

[0015] To solve this problem and achieve the specified result, the present invention proposes a method for manufacturing parts of track links, in which wire from at least a first and second material is wound onto a frame, the resulting coil is heated, after which the coil is flattened to the required shape to form a permanent connection.

[0016] Another feature of the method is that the first material is selected from the group of wear-resistant steels, and the second from high-strength steels.

[0017] Another feature of the claimed method is that wire of different diameters is used.

[0018] Another feature of the method is that during the winding process on the frame the wire materials are changed.

[0019] Another feature of the method is that the wire from the first and second materials is wound onto the frame simultaneously.

[0020] Another feature of the claimed method is that, in addition to the winding process, a material from the group of solid lubricants is applied to the wire frame.

[0021] Finally, another feature of the method according to the present invention is that before winding the wire, an insert made of wear-resistant steel is fixed to the frame.

[0022] The diagram below shows how wire is wound onto a frame when making links of a track chain.

[0023] The method of manufacturing the links of the caterpillar chain is as follows. To explain the method, a diagram of winding the wire onto the frame is presented.

[0024] Initially, wire from the first and second materials, 2 and 3, respectively, are wound onto the frame 1. In a preferred embodiment of the claimed invention, wire from the first 2 and second 3 materials are wound onto the frame simultaneously. In some embodiments of the invention, alternate winding of wire from the first 2 material onto the frame and then from the second 3 material is permissible. In principle, in some embodiments of the method, wire from a larger number of materials (three, four, etc.) can be used. The idea is based on the possibility of combining materials with different properties, which ultimately allows for producing track links with better characteristics.

[0025] Any known design that allows winding of wire and subsequent removal of the resulting coil can be used as a frame, for example, a rod, a spool, a bobbin, a drum or a split spool, etc.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first material 2 is selected from the group of wear-resistant steels, and the second 3 is selected from high-strength steels. The group of wear-resistant steels includes steels and alloys characterized by increased hardness. For example, wire made of 65G steel can be used as the first material 2. This will ensure high resistance of the link to abrasion during operation. The group of high-strength steels includes steels and alloys characterized by increased strength and resistance to impact loads. For example, wire made of 30KhGSA steel can be selected as the second material 3.

[0027] In the embodiments of the method, where alternate winding of wire from the first 2 material and then from the second 3 material is carried out on the frame 1, wherein the first material is selected from the group of wear-resistant steels, and the second - from high-strength steels, it is advisable to initially wind the wire from the wear-resistant material on the frame, and then from the material characterized by increased strength. Due to this, the zone of the link (inner surface), subject to the greatest friction (and, accordingly, wear), will have increased wear-resistant properties.

[0028] In some embodiments of the invention, wire of different diameters is used. This allows for the simultaneous winding (ensuring winding of the wire at the same speed) to dose materials with different properties.

[0029] In some versions, the wire materials are changed during the winding process on the frame 1. This allows for the production of a link with unique characteristics, as well as the possibility of reducing the cost of production when cheaper materials are used without significantly worsening the parameters of the manufactured product (link), and also using a smaller amount of relatively less accessible materials. For example, initially, wire made of 65G steel and wire made of 30KhGSA steel are simultaneously wound on the frame, then the wire is changed and winding is completed, for example, with wire made of 30G steel.

[0030] Additionally, in some embodiments of the invention, a material from the group of solid lubricants is applied during the winding process on the frame 1 of the wire. For example, such materials as graphite, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, etc. can be used as a solid lubricant. The material from the group of solid lubricants can be applied by feeding the material in the form of powder. The application of the material from the group of solid lubricants allows for an additional increase in the wear resistance of the link. This is ensured by the fact that the particles of the solid lubricant remain in the material after flattening. During the operation of the track chain, the main material of the link wears out. This opens up the particles of the solid lubricant, which get into the contact zone of the surfaces (the surface of the link with the surface of the track element, usually with the bracket) and thereby reduces friction and increases the wear resistance of the final product.

[0031] In some versions, a wear-resistant steel insert is secured to the frame before winding the wire. The wear-resistant steel insert may be a liner or liners 4 and 5 (or more), which may form a closed or open circuit (as shown in). An open circuit allows the liners to be installed only in those places where the greatest friction will be observed during operation of the track chain. The insert may be made, for example, of 65G steel. Securement of the insert (liners) allows combining materials of different properties and shapes when manufacturing track chain links in order to obtain a product with the required characteristics.

[0032] After the winding of the wire on the frame 1 is completed, the coil is removed and then heated to the temperature required to ensure pressure welding. Heating can be carried out in an inductor or in another known way.

[0033] Next, the heated coil is placed in a die (in principle, heating can be carried out directly in the die) and flattened to the required shape, forming a permanent joint. Flattening can be carried out on a hammer or crank press or by another known method.

[0034] If necessary, after flattening, the link can be additionally mechanically processed in order to remove flash and give the link a marketable appearance.

[0035] Thus, the claimed method provides the possibility of combining materials with different properties and shapes and allows for the production of a track chain link with high strength and wear-resistant properties. In addition, the technical solution allows for the simplification of the process of manufacturing track chain links and the reduction of labor costs by reducing the number of technological operations performed. An additional advantage of the claimed method is the availability of the raw materials used and the wide possibility of their variation, since the industry provides a wide range of wire.

[0036] The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, there are many possibilities for modification that will be obvious to an ordinary person skilled in the art without departing from the basic idea of ​​the invention described in the claims.

[0037] The invention can be used in the manufacture of links connecting tracks of a caterpillar chain, which can be installed around the tires of vehicles with the possibility of removal.

Claims

A method for manufacturing track links in which wire made of at least a first and second material is wound onto a frame, the resulting coil is heated, and then the coil is flattened to the required shape to form a permanent connection. The method according to item 1, wherein the first material is selected from the group of wear-resistant steels, and the second from high-strength steels. The method according to item 1, in which wire of different diameters is used. The method according to item 1, wherein during the process of winding onto the frame the materials of the wires are changed. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wire from the first and second materials is wound onto the frame simultaneously. A method according to any of the preceding paragraphs, wherein during the winding process a material from the group of solid lubricants is applied to the wire frame. A method according to any of the preceding paragraphs, in which, before winding the wire, an insert made of wear-resistant steel is secured to the frame.

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